Putting a Price Tag on the Common Core: How Much Will Smart Implementation Cost?

Putting a Price Tag on the Common Core: How Much Will Smart Implementation Cost?

By Patrick J. Murphy , Elliot Regenstein / May 30, 2012

The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) for English language arts and mathematics represent a sea change in standards-based reform and their implementation is the movement’s next—and greatest—challenge. Yet, while most states have now set forth implementation plans, these tomes seldom address the crucial matter of cost. Putting a Price Tag on the Common Core: How Much Will Smart Implementation Cost? estimates the implementation cost for each of the forty-five states (and the District of Columbia) that have adopted the Common Core State Standards and shows that costs naturally depend on how states approach implementation. Authors Patrick J. Murphy of the University of San Francisco and Elliot Regenstein of EducationCounsel LLC illustrate this with three models:

Business as Usual.This “traditional” (and priciest) approach to standards-implementation involves buying hard-copy textbooks, administering annual student assessments on paper, and delivering in-person professional development to all teachers.

Balanced Implementation. This is a blend of approaches, some of them apt to be effective as well as relatively cost-efficient.

The report examines the tradeoffs associated with each strategy and estimates how much the three approaches would cost each state that has adopted the Common Core. The authors also point out that, since states already invest billions annually in professional development, assessments, textbooks, and other expenses in connection with existing standards, proper forecasting of Common Core costs should “net out” the sums that states would spend anyway for activities that this implementation process will replace.

Replies to This Discussion

One of my main concerns, is whether or not we actually had any type of 'training' implementing our previous NYS standards, or perhaps, training for the 'New Compact for Learning'--circa 1990ish? I suppose we did not have adequate training, and therefore, 'Common Core' and all of the 'tools' now surfacing will make us a master of our game? I mean a 'Common Core Black Belt'!!!

Strong teacher planning and implementation will be the backbone for any items we decide to purchase. My recommendation is to actually read the documents and understand what common core is asking us to do as instructors. It is my understanding that to earn a 'black belt' in anything can take years. If so, then why are we expected to be 'black belts' in less than ten months?

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